My Name is Hiroshi Nohara, Star of Neon Film and Television!

Chapter 65: The Impact of "Tales of the Unusual" on Asumi

Very soon, Nohara Hiroshi arrived at Asumi's office.

He was led inside by the secretary.

It was just he didn't expect, inside this office symbolizing power and future, sat another guest.

That was an old man, roughly in his early sixties, hair already graying, yet combed impeccably.

Wearing an excellently textured dark gray suit, although appearing somewhat baggy due to the washing of the years, that dignity and strength of character belonging to the elites of the past era, were still clearly visible.

He was merely sitting quietly on the sofa. That pair of slightly murky eyes, were somewhat absentmindedly looking out at that piece of sky outside the window.

Like a defeated loser having suffered a blow.

"This is..." Inside Nohara Hiroshi's mind akin to a movie fast forwarding, instantly flashed the information regarding this old man.

Kurosawa Eiji.

A former pillar of Kanto TV, a Level 1 Director in the truest sense.What he excels at, are ancient war dramas that are the most mainstream of this era, and also best reflect production strength and sentiments.

Whether it's Taiga Dramas or movies, he has shot classic works sufficient to be recorded in the annals of history.

The Samurai under his lens, tragic, resolute, full of classical romanticism and sorrow, were once the spiritual totems of a generation of Neon men.

Such a pity a hero in his twilight years.

In recent years, along with the shift in the audience's tastes, that narrative style of his filled with an atmosphere of rituals and profound feelings, gradually became out of place.

Several consecutive movies flopped at the box office, and the TV dramas he directed also had mediocre responses.

All were neither warm nor hot (lukewarm).

But after all this is a king from the previous era. Nohara Hiroshi still intended to express revealing his own respects.

"Director Kurosawa, good morning."

Hence Nohara Hiroshi didn't have the slightest hesitation, stepping forward, facing this great senior of the industry, making a standard ninety-degree bow. His posture was humble, without half a point of arrogance arising from his current success.

"Oh?" Kurosawa Eiji seemed to have just snapped back to reality from his own world.

He slowly turned his head. Within that pair of murky eyes, when clearly seeing that young and handsome face of Nohara Hiroshi, flashed a trace of imperceptible astonishment, subsequently turning into a smear of gentle smile.

"You are... that Nohara-kun right?"

His voice carried a bit of hoarseness unique to the elderly, yet was still full of vigor: "Truly the younger generation is formidable. 『Yamishibai』, I've watched it, very interesting. Now for the young people, the things thought about inside their heads, are indeed different from us old folks."

Inside his words, there was no jealousy, only a lonely sigh belonging to an experienced person.

"You overpraise, Director Kurosawa." Nohara Hiroshi straightened up, a gentle smile hanging on his face: "Your works, I grew up watching them since childhood. Those are the masterpieces truly capable of representing our Neon spirit that are handed down from age to age. This junior still has many places needing to learn from you."

This speech was watertight, neither expressing respect, but also setting his own position properly.

The smile on Kurosawa Eiji's face grew heavier. He nodded his head satisfyingly, standing up, speaking to the Asumi at the side: "Asumi, I just came to greet you. About the golden hour, I know the station has its difficulties, you don't need to be in a difficult position. I'll go back and polish the script some more."

Having finished speaking, he then walked out of the office with steady paces.

That back figure, was still upright.

Yet also revealed a desolation unhideable.

Inside the office quieted down.

Asumi didn't open his mouth immediately, waiting for the secretary to close the office door anew. He then stood up walking to the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, looking at that piece of endless stream of traffic forming a city below, for a long while, before letting out a long breath of air.

Within that breath carried exhaustion and helplessness.

"Did you see that? Nohara-kun." He rubbed his brow centers, his voice hoarse: "Kurosawa-sensei, is the senior I respect the most. The 『Samurai』 he filmed, is still a classic un-surpassable in my heart until today. But..."

He turned around. On that face always refined and steady, for the first time was revealed a trace of bitterness.

"The era has changed. The audience's tastes, have become faster and faster, trickier and trickier. They no longer require a grand narrative, no longer require heavy contemplation. What they need is stimulation, is resonance, is a topic they can discuss with great relish with their colleagues on the train heading to work the next day."

"Kurosawa-sensei still wants to film ancient samurai films, still wants to tell those old stories regarding loyalty and honor. It's not bad, it's just... outdated. Unless, he can film something new out of it. But this, is too hard."

This speech of Asumi, was more akin to talking to himself than speaking to Nohara Hiroshi, singing a silent elegy for a hero in his twilight years.

Nohara Hiroshi listened quietly, without interrupting.

He knew, this wasn't soliciting his opinion. This was merely a superior, when facing a junior whom he appreciates and perhaps could understand his heart's voice, a rare pouring out of emotions.

Sure enough, after briefly sighing with emotion, Asumi very soon recovered that steadiness belonging to a Deputy Director.

He walked back and sat behind his desk, signaling Nohara Hiroshi to sit as well.

"Talk about it, how was the meeting?" His tone became relaxed, as if chatting about an inconsequential domestic triviality.

Nohara Hiroshi then narrated identically exactly the copyright transfer conditions from the meeting yesterday.

From the colossal sum of ten million yen, to the house in Minato Ward or Setagaya, to that Tokyo household registration capable of making countless out-of-town youths squeeze their heads trying to get.

Asumi listened quietly, a gentle smile remaining on his face the entire time.

When Nohara Hiroshi finished, he nodded his head satisfyingly: "Not bad, very good conditions. A house, a household registration, and ten million in cash, that old fox Takada, truly put up a massive capital this time. It seems, he really wants this signboard 『Yamishibai』."

"It should be Section Chief Iwata who wants it even more." Nohara Hiroshi calmly added a sentence.

"Haha, you kid, certainly see things clearly." Upon hearing this Asumi laughed heartily. In that laughter, was filled with tremendous appreciation towards Nohara Hiroshi's astuteness.

"However, you shouldn't be too proud either."

Asumi's laughter reined in, his eyes becoming serious: "Takada snatching 『Yamishibai』 over, isn't to add flowers to its brocade (make it even better). He wants to use a 'brilliant failure', to prove your success is nothing but a flash in the pan. At that time, the media's spits, the audience's queries, will be like the tide, completely drowning you this newly risen myth."

"I understand." Nohara Hiroshi nodded his head, his face still maintaining that unruffled appearance.

That calmness made Asumi once again praise secretly in his heart.

"Very well." He took out another document from the drawer. On the cover of that document, a large "S" was printed using bold black font.

"Since you understand, then I won't beat around the bush." Asumi slid that document in front of Nohara Hiroshi, his voice solemn: "This is what I mentioned to you last time, that S-class live-action horror project. The broadcasting time slot, is set for July in the second half of the year, at nine o'clock in the evening, the sub-prime time."

"I recommended you to the Board of Directors, to act as the General Director and Chief Planner for this project. They, passed it unanimously."

"I only have one request." Asumi's gaze, was like a sharp knife, looking straight at Nohara Hiroshi: "I hope, you can use this work, to pioneer an all-new 'urban legend' universe, genuinely belonging to you, Nohara Hiroshi."

Nohara Hiroshi didn't answer immediately.

He merely took out that project proposal equally radiating the fresh scent of ink that was prepared long ago, from his own briefcase, and gently, placed it in front of Asumi.

That motion, was like an excellent chess player, unhesitatingly responding with that step already prepared in his chest, after the opponent had placed a piece.

Asumi was slightly stunned, and then an even more brilliant smile blossomed on his face.

He picked up that project proposal. On the cover, were a few words designed with a unique artistic font, carrying a bit of mystery and eeriness.

——『Tales of the Unusual』.

That font looked as if it was bleeding, and also as if it was shedding tears.

Giving off a very eerie feeling.

This made Asumi curious.

Hence he opened the first page, yet his brows furrowed imperceptibly.

The opening of the project proposal, was a setting where a man wearing a black suit and sunglasses, uses an emotionless tone to narrate the opening remarks.

"Host?" Asumi's tone carried a trace of imperceptible disappointment.

He recalled a few months ago, a late-night horror reality show which was equally led by their Kanto Faction, and equally employed a 'host bridging' format.

That program, could be said to be a painful Waterloo for their Kanto Faction within this television station.

The stories were clichéd, the production was rough, that host who was a third-rate actor was even more so excessively oily making one unable to bear looking straight at it.

The program only aired for three weeks, and was ruthlessly axed because the viewership rating fell below 1%.

That Level 3 Director he placed his earnest hopes on, naturally was thoroughly thrown into the cold palace because of this, and ultimately feeling disheartened, was kicked back to a local branch station of Kanto TV, never to have a chance of turning over a new leaf.

That incident remains a thorn in his heart to this day.

And now, Nohara Hiroshi, this young man treated by him as the 'rising star of the Kanto Faction', actually wants to repeat that disastrous path?

"Nohara-kun, this format... previously, we tried it, and failed." Within his voice, carried a trace of regret that even he himself didn't notice.

Nohara Hiroshi merely smiled calmly, giving him a gesture of 'please continue'.

Asumi sighed, patiently continuing to read.

And then as he read.

His expression... started to change.

That disappointment, was gradually replaced by astonishment. That astonishment, slowly turned into shock once again.

When he saw the story outline for the first episode 『The Frightening Touch』, within those eyes always as calm as an ancient well, finally, erupted an unprecedented radiance.

A woman possessing the superpower of 'being able to perceive the owner's inner heart by touching an item'.

A male lead one who in her eyes belongs as a serial killer, yet whose actions are all very upright.

A seemingly heroic yet somewhat eerie handsome male lead two.

And, at the final second of the story, that shocking and horrifying massive plot twist sufficient to overturn everything——

The male lead one killed by her, was a police officer investigating the serial murder case. While that handsome man who saved her, is exactly that genuine, psychopathic serial killer still at large.

Because her superpower touched a critical item of the suspect.

Causing her judgment to fail.

The real serial killer, at this time when everyone thought the story would end and the male and female leads would have a grand and happy ending, tore off his true mask, and began to lay his hands on the female lead!

The plot drastically twists!

"Smack!"

Asumi violently closed the project proposal. That sound, was crisp and loud.

He abruptly stood up. On that face always refined and steady, right now was written full of undisguised wild joy and excitement.

"This... this is a genuine 'urban legend'!"

He looked at Nohara Hiroshi. That look in his eyes, was like looking at a national treasure capable of changing history: "This is no longer simple horror, this is human nature, is suspense, is a profound irony and psychoanalysis of this seemingly peaceful modern society of ours!"

He paced back and forth. That fanaticism belonging to a producer was thoroughly ignited.

"Sample! I need a sample!"

Asumi stopped his footsteps, staring intently at Nohara Hiroshi. That gaze, was like a geologist seeing a peerless mineral vein: "Your production team, can you shoot this episode out for me, in the shortest amount of time?!"

"We can." Nohara Hiroshi nodded leisurely.

Inside his memories are ready-made shots and scripts.

Just find some similar actors.

Borrowing heavily from 『Tales of the Unusual』 in his memories, how could he not be leisurely?

"Good!" Asumi finalized his decision. In that voice, carried an unshakeable decisiveness: "I'll give you five million yen per episode for the production budget! Personnel, equipment, pick whatever you like! I only have one requirement, I want to let that old fox Takada, and the entire Board of Directors, see with their own eyes, what, is a true S-class project!"

Five million yen!

Five million yen of the year 1990!

This is no longer generosity, this is a massive gamble!

Nohara Hiroshi looked at Asumi's face flushing slightly from excitement, slowly standing up.

On his face, finally revealed a high-spirited smile originating from the bottom of his heart, belonging to a general about to head towards the battlefield.

"Hai!"

"I will definitely not fail your entrustment!"

Nohara Hiroshi bowed.

This, is exactly the new challenge he desired!